New Delhi: Airtel Uganda, together with long-term technology partner Comviva has won three awards at this year’s virtual Emerging Payments Awards Ceremony, streamed online for the global payments’ community and general public to witness.

Airtel Uganda and Comviva emerged winners for Airtel Money in the “Best Financial Inclusion Payments Initiative” and “Most Innovative Mobile or Financial Service Payments Solution” categories and for Airtel Money Pay in the “Most Innovative Merchant Services Solution’ category.

The Emerging Payments Awards are the virtual gathering place for the payments community to celebrate progress, applaud achievements, and network. Specifically, they celebrate innovation and collaboration by recognising companies that have made significant advances in how we pay today. The 2020 edition was held online and recognised most innovative projects in up to 20 different categories.

Speaking on behalf of Airtel Uganda, Manoj Murali the Managing Director expressed further optimism at the benefits that Airtel’s innovations can bring to subscribers and Ugandans across the country.

“It is extremely encouraging to see an innovation that we introduced to increase convenience and simplicity in the lives of our subscribers receive such global acclaim. We continue to partner with multiple utilities providers, billers, merchants, businesses, international remittance partners, Commercial banks and the Government of Uganda to ensure that subscribers can benefit from our portfolio of services,” he noted.

“The rich portfolio of services is complemented by an expansive Airtel money distribution network of over 140,000 active Airtel money agent and over 900 active and dedicated Airtel Money Branches spread across Uganda, providing last-mile services like cash deposit, withdrawals and customer support services to Airtel Money customers,” Murali added.

Commenting on the award, Manoranjan ‘Mao’ Mohapatra, Chief Executive Officer at Comviva said, “We are delighted to win this joint award with Airtel Uganda. We firmly believe that Airtel Money has been truly transformative as it provided the key to increase financial inclusion and create a digital economy. We are committed to constantly seeking out new ways to deliver innovative digital payment solutions which provide convenience to our customers, and help them solve real problems in a meaningful way. We hope to continue the good work and ensure the growth and prosperity of the mobile money ecosystem in Uganda.”

Airtel Money Uganda is powered by Comviva’s mobiquity® platform and is one of the leading mobile money services in Uganda. Airtel Money leverages mobile technology to extend digital financial services to the financially underserved broadening the reach of the digital economy. Airtel Money provides a mobile wallet to consumers that is linked to their mobile number, allowing them to transfer money, save, get loans and make payments instantly, easily and securely, anywhere, anytime. Airtel Money can be accessed by all phones via USSD *185# or the ‘My Airtel’ mobile app.

This is not the first time that Airtel and Comviva are receiving commendation for their joint innovations. Earlier this year, the two technology partners won the 2020 Digital Wallet Innovation Award under the ‘Market Adoption’ category. In November 2020, Airtel and Comviva won the Payments Award 2020 for Airtel Money in the ‘Best Mobile Payments Solution’ category.